Jul
15
Texas Professional Educator’s or Teacher Bond and Grant Program
Posted by kathyellisrealtor under Down Payment, Financing, For Buyers, For Sellers, General Information, Housing, Houston, loans, Mortgage, Realtor, Relocation, Schools
Congratulations Teachers and Educators! If you are considering purchasing your first home, your timing couldn™t be better!
There is currently a grant available to pay a portion of your down payment and closing costs. This grant is only available to a full-time classroom teacher, a full-time paid teacher’s aide, a full-time librarian, a full-time counselor certified under Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, or full-time school nurse employed by an Independent School District. In addition, there is no minimum time on the job required!
As part of Kathy™s Teachers Helping Teachers Program, she is offering a discount, if you are an Educator. Please contact Kathy today for more information about her special program and how she can assist you in finding your new home!
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Jul
6
2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon in Houston, Texas – January 14, 2012
Posted by kathyellisrealtor under For Buyers, For Sellers, Houston, Olympic, Regional News, Spring
Houston will be hosting the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials “ Marathon on January 14, 2012.
Men and Women will be competing in the Olympic Team Trials “ Marathon on the same day, and at the same place, for the first time ever! The results of the Marathon will determine the three men and three women who will represent the United States in the Marathon at the 2012 Olympic Games in London
Qualifying men and women athletes will complete the 26.2 mile marathon by starting on Avenida de las Americas, and running counterclockwise completing a 2.2-mile loop and then running north on Avenida de las Americas back toward the start line. The men and women will then run the eight-mile loop route counterclockwise three times to conclude the race at the finish line on Avenida de las Americas.
http://www.houston2012.com/
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Jul
1
Lents Family Park in Houston, TX
Posted by kathyellisrealtor under Construction, Dog Parks, For Buyers, For Sellers, Housing, Houston, Playground, Recreation, Regional News, Relocation, Safety, Soccer, Spring, Walking Trail
Yippee! It looks like we will be getting a FABULOUS new park in the Fall of 2011. Lent’s Park will consist of two sections: an East and a West Section
both located just blocks away from FM 1960 West and Highway 45.
Lents Family Park East will be a 18.5 acre park located on the north side of Cypress Station Drive. Amenities at Lents Family Park East will include an interactive splash pad for children, playground, pavilion, and a 1.5 mile walking trail.
Lents Family Park West will be a 16 acre park located on the south side of Cypress Trace Road. Amenities at the Lents Family Park West will include a 1.0 mile walking trail, separate dog parks for small and large dogs, playgrounds, and a pavilion. In addition, the West Park will be home to two soccer fields managed by Rush Soccer Club who will operate a recreational soccer league for children between the ages of 5 and 18.
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Jun
22
ExxonMobil to Consolidate Houston Offices at New Campus
Posted by kathyellisrealtor under Energy Conservation, For Buyers, For Sellers, Housing, Jobs, Regional News, The Woodlands
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news release
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Jun
18
Good News for Houston Economy
Posted by kathyellisrealtor under Auto Sales, Construction, For Buyers, For Sellers, Housing, Houston, Jobs, Oil, Regional News, Spring
Bill Gilmer, senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, El Paso Branch, was the speaker. And he had a lot of good things to say about Houston.
Here are some highlights:
¢ Jobs: Houston has created 325,000 jobs between 2003 and 2008, outpacing the country.
œThe jobs market has been the most disappointing part of the (overall) economic picture, Gilmer said.
¢ Economy: The city has been able to recover to pre-recession levels. Houston hit bottom in August 2008. No other area in Texas has gotten back to pre-recession levels.
¢ Reasons why Houston has not done better: The end of NASA™s role in manned space flight, health care reform (œThis is the first time ever there is no construction planned at the Texas Medical Center, he said), the deepwater drilling moratorium and the threat of cap and trade proposals.
¢ Auto sales: Still in recovery. Look for nationwide sales to get back to the 16 million mark in 2014.
¢ Housing: Market is still weak. Plan to see a turnaround in Houston real estate by the end of the year.
¢ Construction: In 2000, there were 1.2 million housing permits. Now there are 400,000. In Houston, we saw a 60 percent decrease in the number of housing permits.
¢ Oil: He said that for the first time since 1995, there are more rigs looking for oil than natural gas.
¢ Gross Domestic Product: The country’s growth over the next several quarters is expected to be in the 3 percent to 3.5 percent range.
¢ Endgame: œHouston is doing OK by Houston standards, by U.S. standards doing well and by Texas standards, it is in the middle of the pack, he said.
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Jun
17
10 Ways to Prepare for Homeownership
Posted by kathyellisrealtor under Credit, Down Payment, Financing, For Buyers, General Information, loans, Mortgage, Preapproval, Property Taxes, Realtor, Relocation, Safety, Saving, Schools
1. Decide what you can afford. Generally, you can afford a home equal in value to between two and three times your gross income.
2. Develop your home wish list. Then, prioritize the features on your list.
3. Select where you want to live. Compile a list of three or four neighborhoods you™d like to live in, taking into account items such as schools, recreational facilities, area expansion plans, and safety.
4. Start saving. Do you have enough money saved to qualify for a mortgage and cover your down payment? Ideally, you should have 20 percent of the purchase price saved as a down payment. Also, don™t forget to factor in closing costs. Closing costs ” including taxes, attorney™s fee, and transfer fees ” average between 2 and 7 percent of the home price.
5. Get your credit in order. Obtain a copy of your credit report to make sure it is accurate and to correct any errors immediately. A credit report provides a history of your credit, bad debts, and any late payments.
6. Determine your mortgage qualifications. How large of mortgage do you qualify for? Also, explore different loan options ” such as 30-year or 15-year fixed mortgages or ARMs ” and decide what™s best for you.
7. Get preapproved. Organize all the documentation a lender will need to preapprove you for a loan. You might need W-2 forms, copies of at least one pay stub, account numbers, and copies of two to four months of bank or credit union statements.
8. Weigh other sources of help with a down payment. Do you qualify for any special mortgage or down payment assistance programs? Check with your state and local government on down payment assistance programs for first-time buyers. Or, if you have an IRA account, you can use the money you™ve saved to buy your fist home without paying a penalty for early withdrawal.
9. Calculate the costs of homeownership. This should include property taxes, insurance, maintenance and utilities, and association fees, if applicable.
10. Contact a REALTOR ®. Find an experienced REALTOR ® who can help guide you through the process.
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Jun
17
Home Inventories Grow, Prices Fall
Posted by kathyellisrealtor under For Buyers, For Sellers, General Information, Relocation
The inventory of for-sale homes grew in May by 3.5 percent, which marks the biggest monthly increase of the year, according to the latest housing data from Realtor.com. However, overall inventories dropped 14.3 percent compared to a year ago at this time.
Median asking prices for homes were down last month, falling 1.6 percent which follows two months of increases, the data shows.
Some of the largest declines were seen in Chicago and Tampa, Fla, where asking prices were down 5.7 percent from April, and in Phoenix prices were down 5.4 percent.
Listing prices increased in only 10 of the 146 markets tracked by Realtor.com. Denver and Washington, D.C., posted some of the largest listing price increases.
The National Association of REALTORS ® will release next week its report on sales and inventory of existing homes.
Source: œMore Homes Listed and Lingering, Data Show, The Wall Street Journal (June 16, 2011)
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Jun
16
Conserve Water at Home
Posted by kathyellisrealtor under For Buyers, For Sellers, General Information, Homeowner Tips, Water Conservation
Curb your water usage with a few simple tips:
- Use a low-flow showerhead
- Check water heater for leaks and rust
- Inspect faucets, sinks, and pipes for leaks
- Install low-flow fixutres to cut hot-water consumption in half
- Price gas tankless water heaters
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Jun
15
Energy Saving Tips for Summer in Houston
Posted by kathyellisrealtor under Energy Conservation, For Buyers, For Sellers, General Information, Homeowner Tips
Some things you can do to beat the high cost of energy in Houston’s hot summers include:
- Set your thermostat to 78 degrees during the day
- Use ceiling fans
- Buy a programmable thermostat
- Have proper insulation
- Use a high SEER air conditioner
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Jun
15
Welcome to Kathy Ellis’ Blog!
Posted by kathyellisrealtor under For Buyers, For Realty Professionals, For Sellers, General Information
Welcome to Kathy Ellis’ blog! This blog will provide you with valuable information, tips, and general insight into the real estate market in Spring.
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Kathy Ellis\' Blog is authored by Kathy Ellis
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